Mali military action OKd by U.N.

Associated Press

Updated 10:35 pm, Thursday, December 20, 2012

United Nations --

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized military action to wrest northern Mali from the control of al Qaeda-linked extremists but demanded progress first on political reconciliation, elections and training African troops and police.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the U.N.'s most powerful body stressed that there must be a two-track plan, political and military, to reunify the country, which has been in turmoil since a coup in March.

The Security Council authorized an African-led force to support Malian authorities in recovering the north - an area the size of Texas - but set no timeline for military action. Instead, it set out benchmarks to be met before the start of offensive operations, beginning with progress on a political roadmap to restore constitutional order.

The resolution also emphasizes that further military planning is needed before the African-led force is sent to the north and asks Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to "confirm in advance the council's satisfaction with the planned military offensive operation."

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said recently he does not expect a military operation to begin until September or October.

Mali was plunged into turmoil after a coup in March created a security vacuum. That allowed the secular Tuaregs, who have long felt marginalized by Mali's government, to take half the north as a new homeland. But months later, the rebels were kicked out by Islamist groups allied with al Qaeda, which have now imposed strict Shariah law in the north.

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